February 25, 2005 – Back of the Book: Interview With Lee Majors

O’REILLY: In the “Back of the Book” segment tonight, TV icon Lee Majors.
As the “6 Million Dollar Man,” he dominated action television from 1974 to ’78. Since that time, he’s done “The Fall Guy” and scores of other roles. Then in 1992, Mr. Majors moved his children out of Los Angeles. But why? Lee Majors joins us now.

It’s interesting. You know, this is a tough town. I mean, Eastwood lives north of here, and a lot of people just don’t want to live here. Why did you move?

LEE MAJORS, ACTOR: Well, at the time — first of all, let me get back to one thing. I have done a series in the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s…

O’REILLY: Yeah, you did (UNINTELLIGIBLE), right?

MAJORS: … and ’90s and I did so much — they were all action dramas. And as Clint would be able to tell you, doing a one-hour action television series is one of the hardest things in business.

And about in the late ’80s, I got kind of burned out a little bit. And just wanted to recharge my batteries, No. 1. And then — so I moved to Florida, Ft. Lauderdale and raised a couple of, you know, kids there. I have twin boys, 12, and a daughter, 17.

And — but it wasn’t really as far as the kids not being raised here. But it’s just the fact that I needed to get away from the business, to recharge batteries.

O’REILLY: But it is different in Ft. Lauderdale than Los Angeles. Values are different.

MAJORS: Oh, yeah, it’s small town, small town effect. And it’s schools are really nice. And so…

O’REILLY: Because you were in a position here where not only were you a television star, but you were married to Farrah Fawcett, you were a tabloid target, you were besieged by teeny boppers.

MAJORS: That’s part of getting burned out, I guess.

O’REILLY: Yeah. Was that hard to handle all of that?

MAJORS: It’s tremendous pressure on you, and especially if two people want a career. Like for Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, who just separated…

(CROSSTALK)

MAJORS: I feel bad for them, and I was hoping they would make it. But when two people want a career, it’s just — it’s hard. I probably saw Farrah in one year maybe two weeks out of the year.

O’REILLY: Really? Two weeks out of 52 you only saw your wife?

MAJORS: Right. That’s correct. So it doesn’t make for a really good marriage to be in.

O’REILLY: And everybody tracking you all the time, right? Watching everywhere you go.

MAJORS: Everywhere you go. Everywhere you go.

O’REILLY: Right. So that was interesting. So you disassociated yourself, you went out to Florida, you raised your children. And now you have got projects. You’re going to do something with Shatner, right?

MAJORS: Yeah, William Shatner and R.J. Wagner, a thing called “Action Heroes,” excuse me, for ABC and FOX television here.

O’REILLY: Do you want to extend your career, as Clint Eastwood, he is almost 75, and I mean, he’s fast tracking. He is still doing huge movies. Do you want to do that for as long as you can do it?

MAJORS: I do, yes. I do. I miss it. And that’s why I’m back, and looking to do another series. I think I got one more in me, after I have done seven.

O’REILLY: Yeah. TV is different these days. You know, when you were in all your series, there was a very small pool and everybody was watching and everybody knew who you were and all of that. Now there’s a gazillion of TV stations.

MAJORS: Now when you come back, even though I haven’t been gone that long, you go into some meetings, and the casting people are in their 20s. You hand them your resume, and they look at it and say, I’m very impressed with your resume, but you know…

O’REILLY: But who you are?

MAJORS: Who are you, yeah. So it’s like starting over again, but I look forward to the challenge. And I think I can…

O’REILLY: Have things changed? It’s always been a fast town, and as you mentioned, a pressure-packed town. When you come back, have things changed in Los Angeles? Has the business changed? Is it better or worse?

MAJORS: I think the business has changed tremendously, as far as I can see, because in the ’60s, ’70s, 80s, I don’t think it was there was some politicking going on within the industry. You know, like who is going to be head of this studio and that studio. But for some reason, I don’t know why this whole thing has gotten out of proportion with the industry as far as our national politics are concerned.

O’REILLY: So it’s gone so far left, right?

MAJORS: Yes. And I, you know, I’m probably — people are afraid to say they are Republicans, because of — they are afraid they wouldn’t get work.

O’REILLY: Is that a legitimate fear?

MAJORS: Well, I don’t go out and shout it from the rooftops.

O’REILLY: But you’re a conservative guy.

MAJORS: I’m a very conservative guy, yes.

O’REILLY: But you don’t want to make that too well known.

MAJORS: No.

O’REILLY: But I think we just blew your cover here.

MAJORS: That’s OK. But you know what, I’m neither one. I’m for
whoever I think is the best guy.

O’REILLY: The best guy, yeah.

MAJORS: I mean, I campaigned for Humphrey.

O’REILLY: But actors do tell me, you know, if you talk politics and they don’t like your politics, you could lose work out here.

MAJORS: That’s true. But I’ve never felt losing work for that reason.

O’REILLY: Yeah, but I think you got to tread very carefully. There is a group think out here. But as Eastwood shows, he’s an independent thinker. He does what he wants.

MAJORS: I’m certainly glad you had him as my opening act.

O’REILLY: I think so. I like both of you guys.

MAJORS: You know, when I got a call from your people, I was very shocked, because I watch your show all the time.

O’REILLY: Thank you.

MAJORS: And — but it’s like, now I know what it is to feel to sit in this chair.

O’REILLY: Yeah, but I like you, so.

MAJORS: And I felt like I was getting a call from the principal’s office and going into to see the principal, wondering what the heck did I
do?

O’REILLY: But if I didn’t like you, it would be different.

MAJORS: I certainly hope so.

O’REILLY: Mr. Majors, good luck to you. Thanks for coming in. I appreciate it very much.

MAJORS: Thank you. Thank you.

O’REILLY: And next, we will wrap things up with “The Most Ridiculous Item of the Day” and some of your mail.

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